On September 30, 2004, after the Cubs had choked away a nearly certain playoff spot, Steve Stone assessed the team on the air. He said the 2004 Cubs were: "(a) bunch of talented guys who want to look at all directions except where they should really look and kind of make excuses for what happened. ... At the end of the day, boys, don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship."

That was not received too well by certain members of that team. Relief pitcher Kent Mercker was particularly vocal about what he considered a betrayal. Some other players were also very upset, as was Cubs management. They called Stone into a meeting with team president Andy McPhail, who told Stone directly how upset he was. Manager Dusty Baker and General Manager Jim Hendry also chimed in--and very publicly rebuked Stone.

The fans sensed the pressure building against Stone, so after the last home game of the season, they gave him a standing ovation.

A month later after the Cubs allowed Stone's broadcast partner Chip Caray to go to Atlanta rather than try to keep him in Chicago, Stone had had enough. On October 28, 2004 he resigned from the Cubs broadcast booth after fifteen years behind the microphone.

Stone has since become the announcer for the crosstown rival White Sox, and continues to provide Chicago fans with his insightful (and often prescient) commentary.

He just does it for the wrong team now.